Congressman Jim McGovern speaking at the 30th anniversary celebration of International Campaign for Tibet in Washington DC on March 7, 2017.Photo- OoT Washington DC

DHARAMSHALA, March 7: Congressman Jim McGovern, a staunch supporter of Tibetan cause, said that Tibetans and support groups must renew their activism, build a stronger movement and to make the Chinese government take notice. McGovern was speaking at the celebration of 30th anniversary of Tibet Advocacy group, International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) today in Washington DC.

“In spite of 30 years of good and important work conditions in Tibet are getting worse, not better. China is not feeling any consequences for its repression,” the Congressman said on the occasion while calling on the government to pass HR 1872 – the Reciprocal Access to Tibet Act, to say no to China’s efforts to control the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama, to redouble the efforts to release Tibetan prisoners of conscious and to free the 11th Panchen Lama.

The 58-year-old Congressman from Massachusetts said, “We need to invest more resources and energy to get the Chinese government to go back to the negotiating table and reestablish the Tibetan Chinese dialogue.”

He also added, “The Chinese government feels empowered that they don’t feel the consequences of their policies. We have been patient for too long. Now it is time for us to come together and to think out of the box, develop new strategies and to push back.”

The occasion was also attended by Richard Gere, ICT Chairman, Nancy Pelosi, Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives and Congressman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, among others.

The Washington-based Tibetan advocacy group also coordinated the recently concluded ‘Tibet Lobby Day’ from March 4 to March 6 along with Students for a Free Tibet and Tibetan Associations in the US.

More than 100 Tibetans living in the US and supporters from allover the country gathered in the national capital to meet and urge their elected representatives to extend their support for the Tibetan cause.

Tibet Lobby Day in England will take place today, with Tibetans and supporters meeting the members of Parliament in London to talk on Tibet issues and push for their support.